Preserving Intangible Heritage through tangible finds: the "Skull with Ears“ Santa Luciella ai Librari church (Naples, Italy)

This study reports the taphonomic and anthropological analysis and the restoration treatments of the cranium known as the “Skull with Ears” lodged in the crypt of Santa Luciella ai Librai church in Naples The crypt preserves the remains of dozens of skulls arranged on shelves that have been the object of care and devotion in the past and still today The "Skull with Ears" played a role of considerable importance since the presence of bone portions mistaken as mummified ears, but actually consisting of partially detached and deformed temporal bones led devotees to believe that the skull was more than others able to listen and satisfy their demands Thus, this object of devotion is directly tied to the Neapolitan intangible heritage as a manifestation of the collective cultural identity. The crypt housing the skull is a single chamber connected with the outside by a small window on the street front as a result, the climate is humid, with steady R H levels of 99 or higher and the walls and shelves are covered by calcium sulphate efflorescence.